Two skiers hurt in separate accidents at Stevens Pass

GOLD BAR — Two people were seriously hurt Tuesday in separate snow-sports accidents at Stevens Pass.

In the first incident reported mid-afternoon, a skiing accident left a 55-year-old man with life-threatening spinal injuries.

The man was rushed to a Gold Bar fire station and then taken via medical helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Gold Bar Fire Chief Eric Andrews said.

The medical helicopter left Gold Bar about 3:15 p.m.

As of 6 p.m., a second helicopter transport was under way. Initial reports were preliminary, but firefighters were told that a 46-year-old man fell 300 feet while skiing or snowboarding out of bounds, Andrews said. The fall was reported about 5:30 p.m.

That man also was being taken to Harborview on Tuesday evening. No updates were available on either of the men’s conditions.

The pass is in King County, but Gold Bar firefighters often are summoned there to provide medical aid during emergencies.

In addition, two more people were rescued from the Chelan County side of the pass after a small avalanche Tuesday morning, according to The Herald’s news partner, KIRO-7.

A man and his adult son were skiing out of bounds at the time, according to KIRO. They both were taken to the hospital and were expected to survive. That accident happened about 11:20 a.m.